Mysuru-based CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CSIR-CFTRI), the premier food research laboratory, in association with Kautilya Entrepreneurship and Management Institute, Jain University, Bengaluru will kick off the second version of its joint programme to encourage and promote start-ups in the food processing sector between November 20 and December 2, 2017.

Titled Entrepreneurial opportunities in food and allied sectors, it has been designed to address both the technologies and entrepreneurships to support successful ventures in the food processing sector. While the first part of the programme will be held on the CFTRI campus in Mysuru, the second part will take place on the Jain University Campus in Bengaluru.

The programme will focus on emerging trends in the market, such as ready-to-eat (RTE) foods, natural beverages, superfoods, healthy snacks, minimally-processed vegetables, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations and new product development. The entrepreneurship will focus on developing opportunities, customer value proposition, marketing, financing and branding.

The institute has been offering short-term training programmes throughout the year. These are generally of five-day durations and cover various aspects of food processing and technologies.

Jitendra Jadhav, director CSIR-CFTRI, said, “The new initiative is in line with the Start-up India and Skill India missions of the government of India, and caters to the needs of the various stakeholders such as entrepreneurs, micro-, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), exporters and food parks.”

“This unique collaboration of the technology leader with management experts will be able to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the sunrise sector of the country,” he added, stating that the programme is open to aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, and will focus on the unfolding potential opportunities in the country’s food sector.